The ICRC and Ethiopian Red Cross Society (ERCS) begun delivering emergency assistance to people displaced by ethnic violence in Ethiopia last week. The displacement occurred along the borders of Gedeo (Southern Ethiopia Region) and West Guji (Oromia Region) between mid-April and early June. The assistance aims to reach 10,000 displaced families and benefit an estimated 60,000 individuals.

Last week's emergency assistance (consisting of plastic shelters, sleeping mats, blankets, jerry cans, cooking utensils and soap) was distributed to 3,300 displaced families sheltered in Kochere district of Gedeo Zone in the Southern part of Ethiopia on August 1st and 2nd.

"Most of the displaced people fled with nothing but their lives. Many, including children, sleep on cold grounds in public facilities, with only ragged cloths on them to keep them warm," says Abraham Gole, Administrator of Kochere which hosts more than 82,000 affected people. "The assistance not only helps mitigate the suffering of the displaced people but also eases the burden of hosting communities whose resources have been stretched to the limit due to the influx of people to the area," He added.

"My husband was killed during the violence. As there was no time for a grief, me and my kids run away for our lives," says one of the recipient of the assistance, Tadessech Asheber, a mother of 5 children. She added, "For more than a month we slept on a school floor where we are sheltered with little cloths we had on top of us. I couldn't sleep properly at night as I was trying to get my children warm. I am happy now for my kids got mats to sleep on and blankets to wear in particular."

Another recipient, Aberash Wondimu, a 39 years old woman, reached Chelelektu after traveling a distance of 17-km on foot while carrying her 2-month-old child on her back and her two-year-old childwith her hands. "As we are living in a make shift shelters, we (her family) were obliged to pass outside and it was very difficult for us to stay there when it rains. It is indeed a great relief for us to have a plastic shelter specially."

Jean Pierre Soumah, an ICRC Economic Security Delegate said the distribution would continue until the targeted community is reached.

The violence between ethnic Oromos and Gedeos that occurred along the borders of Gedeo and West Guji left an estimated 800,000 people displaced.

In its economic security program, the ICRC, in partnership with the ERCS, provides assistance mainly to people affected by inter-communal clashes.